Soup for a sickie

[echo eater]

So I woke up with a cold today and now I'm craving a nice hot, spicy, sour, brothy kind of soup. I live in Echo Park and my too-lazy-to-think-of-another-option is usually Mae Ploy's tom yum kai, but maybe you all have better ideas?

I'd like to not do a ton of driving, so Silverlake, E. Hollywood, Los Feliz and Echo Park locales please.

Thanks!

[Ernie]

I like spicy Korean soups when I have a cold, e.g., soon dubu chigae. BCD in Koreatown is good

[tooth]

i second ernie on korean soups, you could even do a korean ginseng chicken soup (sam gye tang). i'm not feeling to good either and that sounds like the route for me. but if you want some soon dubu that isn't at BCD try Beverly Soon Tofu on Olympic just west of Vermont. I know its called Beverly Soon Tofu but it is actually on Olympic. thier soon dubu is second only to my moms...

[iambored]

There is this chicken tortilla soup at Albertson's that is spicy, salty, and a little sour. It's EXCELLENT for clearing up any cold you might have. It's also pretty cheap-- a little over 4 dollars for a take home tub. They also sell it hot, in different sizes ranging from 2-4 dollars.

[avena]

I hope you feel better soon. Keep in mind that ginger is good for you when you are sick, so if you have the option, choose a soup with some ginger in it. Stay warm and get rest!

[Emme]

If you like Chicken Soup, Mel's Diner actually does it quite well, at least the matza ball soup...

If you feel like driving down to Tere's Mexican Grill on Melrose, try their soups... yumm.

[hpcat]

Try the Caldo de Pollo from the Rodeo Grill there on Sunset. Close by, cheap, hearty, and nice flavor. It's gotten me through a few colds.

[George]

This won't help the poster given the area reqs, but I noticed that Al Gelato on Robertson sells big containers of homemade chicken soup in their freezer alongside the gelato. It looked good. Anyone know?

[kotatsu]

Echo - how do you feel about chicken soup? I was pleasantly surprised by how good the rotisserie chicken soup at Costco is, at least at the Alhambra location. The soup is slightly creamy, and has some body to it. Not at all like broth. But it has TONS of white meat chicken, carrots and celery, and very little filler (ie, just a tad of noodles). The celery tasted a little soft and overcooked, but that's ok, because the overall taste is just so dang good. It's $10 for a large tub, and it seems like a lot to pay for soup, but it's actually not bad. Hope you feel better!

[Chowpatty]

Certainly nothing wrong with Mae Ploy's soup, but I'd recommend some pho -- somehow chicken pho seems better for colds than beef -- from Pho Cafe, Lu Subs (on Glendale Blvd. just before Ralph's) or Indochine.
Nadpob also does a killer tom yum kai.

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Pho Cafe
2841 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Indochine Vien
3110 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

Nadpob Thai Cafe
4321 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029

[WildSwede]

Pho and Tom Yum are always my go-tos when I am under the weather (also when I am above the weather)!! Good suggestions, Patty!!

[DanaB]

Second Chowpatty's recommendation of the soups at Nadpob -- I once ordered the wonton soup from Nadpob on a night when I wanted something safe and bland (wasn't feeling well and there are no Chinese delivery places in the area), and wow was I surprised! The soup was spicy and deeply flavorful. Haven't tried the more traditional thai soups, but if the wonton soup is any indication, I am sure they are delicious.

[Bjartmarr]

When you say "chicken pho", are you talking about soup that has a chicken base? (As opposed to regular beef pho with chicken floating in it.)

I've got a friend who has never tried pho because he doesn't eat beef; I'd love to take him out for chicken pho. I didn't think it existed.

[Chowpatty]

I've never actually asked, but it tastes like a chicken base to me. I would call any of the above listed places and ask, since Indochine and Pho Cafe cater more to non-Vietnamese customers.

[RaeRenee]

All of the Pho Ga (Chicken Pho) that I've had is a chicken broth.

[lil mikey]

Not spicy or sour, but excellent for a cold is the homemade chicken soup (with noodles or matzo ball) at Victor's liquor (not the deli, but the liquor store on the corner), located at Franklin and Bronson in EHO.